U.S. patent application number 15/026600 was filed with the patent office on 2016-08-18 for inkjet printer.
This patent application is currently assigned to MIMAKI ENGINEERING Co., Ltd.. The applicant listed for this patent is MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Akira IKEDA.
Application Number | 20160236486 15/026600 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 52778659 |
Filed Date | 2016-08-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20160236486 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
IKEDA; Akira |
August 18, 2016 |
INKJET PRINTER
Abstract
An inkjet printer is provided. The inkjet printer can improve
the efficiency of heating of a platen by a heater as compared to
that in the related art. The inkjet printer includes: a print
platen that has a supporting surface for supporting a recording
medium onto which a recording head ejects ink, and a plurality of
through-holes formed in the supporting surface; a print heater that
heats the print platen; a fan that produces a flow of gas by making
gas existing on a side of the supporting surface with respect to
the through-holes move through the through-holes; and a sheet that
is able to cover at least a part of the supporting surface, thereby
shielding at least a part of the plurality of through-holes, and is
able to change an area to cover the supporting surface.
Inventors: |
IKEDA; Akira; (Nagano,
JP) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
MIMAKI ENGINEERING CO., LTD. |
Tomi-shi, Nagano |
|
JP |
|
|
Assignee: |
MIMAKI ENGINEERING Co.,
Ltd.
Tomi-shi, Nagano
JP
|
Family ID: |
52778659 |
Appl. No.: |
15/026600 |
Filed: |
September 29, 2014 |
PCT Filed: |
September 29, 2014 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/JP2014/075778 |
371 Date: |
April 1, 2016 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B41J 15/04 20130101;
B41J 11/002 20130101; B41J 11/0055 20130101; B41J 11/0085 20130101;
B41J 11/06 20130101 |
International
Class: |
B41J 11/00 20060101
B41J011/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 4, 2013 |
JP |
2013-209556 |
Claims
1. An inkjet printer, comprising: a recording head, ejecting an
ink; a platen, supporting a recording medium onto which the
recording head ejects the ink; a heater, heating the platen; a fan,
producing a flow of gas; and a sheet, being able to cover at least
a part of the platen, wherein the platen has a supporting surface
for supporting the recording medium, and a plurality of
through-holes formed in the supporting surface, the fan produces
the flow of gas by making gas existing on a side of the supporting
surface with respect to the through-holes move through the
through-holes, and the sheet is capable of covering at least a part
of the supporting surface to shield at least a part of the
plurality of through-holes, and is capable of changing an area to
cover the supporting surface.
2. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, wherein the heater is
disposed at a position on an opposite side of the side of the
supporting surface with respect to the through-holes, and the
heater is disposed in a space where gas getting out of the
through-holes passes.
3. The inkjet printer according to claim 1, further comprising: a
winding member, being able to wind the sheet; and a fixed member,
being attached to the sheet which is attached to the winding
member, and the fixed member is fixable at a plurality of positions
with respect to the platen.
4. The inkjet printer according to claim 3, further comprising: a
biasing member, biasing the winding member in a winding direction
of the sheet.
5. The inkjet printer according to claim 3, wherein the fixed
member is a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording
medium.
6. The inkjet printer according to claim 4, wherein the fixed
member is a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording
medium.
7. The inkjet printer according to claim 2, further comprising: a
winding member, being able to wind the sheet; and a fixed member,
being attached to the sheet which is attached to the winding
member, and the fixed member is fixable at a plurality of positions
with respect to the platen.
8. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, further comprising: a
biasing member, biasing the winding member in a winding direction
of the sheet.
9. The inkjet printer according to claim 7, wherein the fixed
member is a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording
medium.
10. The inkjet printer according to claim 8, wherein the fixed
member is a guide member that guides conveyance of the recording
medium.
Description
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The disclosure relates to an inkjet printer which includes a
platen configured to have a supporting surface for supporting a
recording medium and a plurality of through-holes formed in the
supporting surface, and a fan configured to produce a flow of gas,
existing on the supporting surface side with respect to the
through-holes, through the through-holes.
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] As an inkjet printer according to the related art, there is
known an inkjet recording apparatus which includes an accommodating
tray configured to accommodate recording sheets which are recording
media, a side guide configured to regulate the rear ends of
recording sheets in the accommodating tray, a recording head
configured to eject ink, a platen configured to support each
recording sheet onto which the recording head ejects ink, an intake
fan that is a fan configured to produce a flow of gas, a slide
shutter configured to be able to cover at least a part of the
platen, a side pressing tool configured to be attached to the
leading end portion of the slide shutter and suppress an end
portion of each recording sheet from rising up from the platen, and
a coupling arm configured to couple the side guide with the slide
shutter, thereby transmitting linear motion of the side guide
directly to the slide shutter (refer to Patent Document 1).
[0003] The platen of the inkjet recording apparatus disclosed in
Patent Document 1 has a top surface which is a supporting surface
for supporting each recording sheet, and a plurality of suction
holes which are through-holes foimed in the top surface.
[0004] The intake fan of the inkjet recording apparatus disclosed
in Patent Document 1 is configured to produce a flow of gas,
existing on the top surface side of the platen with respect to the
suction holes of the platen, through the suction holes.
[0005] The slide shutter of the inkjet recording apparatus
disclosed in Patent Document 1 is configured to be able to cover at
least a part of the top surface of the platen, thereby shielding at
least some of the plurality of suction holes of the platen, and be
able to change an area to cover the top surface of the platen. This
slide shutter is configured to operate simultaneously with the side
guide coupled with the slide shutter by the coupling aim, thereby
being fixed at a position according to the width dimension of a
recording sheet with respect to the platen. Also, in a case where
the slide shutter is formed by a member which is deformable and
flexible and has a flat plate shape, the slide shutter is
configured to be able to be accommodated in a state where a range
protruding from an end portion of the platen is bent, for example,
downward.
PRIOR ART DOCUMENT
Patent Document
[0006] Patent Document 1: JP-A-2000-153604
SUMMARY
Problem to be Solved
[0007] The inkjet recording apparatus disclosed in Patent Document
1 does not include a heater configured to heat the platen. However,
in the related art, there are known inkjet printers including
heaters configured to heat platens.
[0008] In an inkjet printer including a platen configured to
include a supporting surface for supporting each recording medium
and a plurality of through-holes formed in the supporting surface,
a fan configured to produce a flow of gas, existing on the
supporting surface side with respect to the through-holes, through
the through-holes, and a heater configured to heat the platen,
since the platen heated by the heater is cooled by the flow of gas
produced by the fan, the efficiency of heating of the platen by the
heater is low. The inventor of this application focused attention
on that point.
[0009] Therefore, the disclosure provides an inkjet printer capable
of improving the efficiency of heating of a platen by a heater as
compared to that in the related art.
Solutions to the Problem
[0010] An inkjet printer of the disclosure includes: a recording
head that is configured to eject ink; a platen that is configured
to support a recording medium onto which the recording head ejects
ink; a heater that is configured to heat the platen; a fan that is
configured to produce a flow of gas; and sheets that are configured
to be able to cover at least a part of the platen, wherein the
platen has a supporting surface for supporting the recording
medium, and a plurality of through-holes formed in the supporting
surface, wherein the fan produces the flow of gas, existing on the
supporting surface side with respect to the through-holes, through
the through-holes, and wherein the sheets can cover at least a part
of the supporting surface, thereby capable of shielding at least
some of the plurality of through-holes, and can change an area to
cover the supporting surface.
[0011] According to this configuration, in the inkjet printer of
the disclosure, since a part of the supporting surface of the
platen which does not support a recording medium is covered by the
sheets (hereinafter, referred to as a "medium non-support part"),
whereby it is possible to shield the through-holes of the medium
non-support part, it is possible to suppress gas from being forced
to flow through the through-holes of the medium non-support part by
the fan. Therefore, the inkjet printer of the disclosure can
suppress cooling of the platen due to the flow of gas through the
through-holes of the medium non-support part produced by the fan,
and thus can improve the efficiency of heating of the platen by the
heater as compared to that in the related art.
[0012] Also, in the inkjet printer of the disclosure, the heater
may be disposed at a position on the opposite side of the
through-holes to the supporting surface side, in a space where gas
getting out of the through-holes passes.
[0013] According to this configuration, in the inkjet printer of
the disclosure, since the heater is disposed in the space where gas
entering through-holes from the supporting surface side of the
platen and getting out of the through-holes passes, gas entering
through-holes from the supporting surface side of the platen and
getting out of the through-holes passes the vicinity of the heater,
and thus the heater can be easily cooled by the gas. Therefore, the
inkjet printer of the disclosure further improves the efficiency of
heating of the platen by the heater as compared to a configuration
in which the heater is not disposed in the space where gas getting
out of through-holes passes.
[0014] Also, the inkjet printer of the disclosure may include
winding members that are configured to be able to wind the sheets,
and fixed members that are configured to be attached to the sheets
attached to the winding members and be fixable at a plurality of
positions with respect to the platen.
[0015] According to this configuration, in the inkjet printer of
the disclosure, in a case where the sheets move with respect to the
platen, the sheets are wound. Therefore, as compared to a
configuration in which the sheets move with respect to the platen
without being wound, it is possible to reduce a space for
accommodating the sheets, and thus it is possible to reduce the
size of the whole of the inkjet printer.
[0016] Also, the inkjet printer of the disclosure may include
biasing members that are configured to bias the winding members in
the winding directions of the sheets.
[0017] According to this configuration, in the inkjet printer of
the disclosure, as long as the positions of the fixed members
relative to the platen change, the sheets can be automatically
wound around the winding members by the biasing forces of the
biasing members. Therefore, as compared to a configuration in which
a user manually winds the sheets around the winding members, it is
possible to suppress the burden of a user.
[0018] Also, in the inkjet printer of the disclosure, the fixed
members may be guide members that are configured to guide
conveyance of the recording medium.
[0019] According to this configuration, in the inkjet printer of
the disclosure, the fixed members have both of a function of fixing
the sheets with respect to the platen and a function of guiding
conveyance of a recording medium. Therefore, as long as the fixed
members are fixed with respect to the platen according to the width
of a recording medium in order to make the fixed members guide
conveyance of the recording medium, it is possible to improve the
platen heating efficiency of the heater by the sheets.
Technical Effects
[0020] The inkjet printer of the disclosure can improve the
efficiency of heating of the platen by the heater as compared to
that in the related art.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer according
to an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure in a state where
the inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium.
[0022] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the inkjet printer shown
in FIG. 1.
[0023] FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of a part, surrounding a
print platen, of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1.
[0024] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a part, surrounding the print
platen, of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1.
[0025] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part, surrounding a guide
member, of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the
inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium.
[0026] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer shown in
FIG. 1.
[0027] FIG. 7 is a sectional front view of a part, surrounding the
print platen, of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 in a state
where the inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium.
[0028] FIG. 8 is a plan view of a part, surrounding the print
platen, of the inkjet printer shown in FIG. 1 in a state where the
inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium.
EMBODIMENTS OF THE DISCLOSURE
[0029] Hereinafter, an illustrative embodiment of the disclosure
will be described with reference to drawings.
[0030] First, the configuration of an inkjet printer according to
the illustrative embodiment will be described.
[0031] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an inkjet printer 10
according to the illustrative embodiment in a state where the
inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium 90 such as a sheet
of paper.
[0032] As shown in FIG. 1, the inkjet printer 10 includes: a
housing 11; a conveying device 12 configured to be disposed at a
lower part of the housing 11 and convey a recording medium 90 in a
sub scan direction shown by an arrow 10b and perpendicular to a
main scan direction shown by an arrow 10a; a tank 13 configured to
be disposed at an upper part of the housing 11 and contain ink; a
guide rail 14 configured to extend in the main scan direction shown
by the arrow 10a; a carriage 15 configured to be supported on the
guide rail 14 so as to be movable in the main scan direction shown
by the arrow 10a; a recording head 16 configured to be mounted on
the carriage 15 and eject ink toward each recording medium 90; and
a pressure damper 17 that is a device configured to be mounted on
the carriage 15 and adjust the pressure of ink to be supplied from
the tank 13 to the recording head 16 to a negative pressure of a
predetermined range.
[0033] The housing 11 accommodates the guide rail 14, the carriage
15, the recording head 16, and the pressure damper 17.
[0034] The inkjet printer 10 is an apparatus configured to move the
recording head 16 in the main scan direction, with respect to a
recording medium 90 which does not move in the main scan direction
shown by the arrow 10a, by the carriage 15, and eject ink from the
nozzles of the recording head 16 toward the recording medium 90,
thereby performing printing in the main scan direction with the
recording head 16. Also, the inkjet printer 10 is an apparatus
configured to convey the recording medium 90 in the sub scan
direction, with respect to the recording head 16 which is not move
in the sub scan direction shown by the arrow 10b, by the conveying
device 12, thereby changing the position of the recording head 16
relative to the recording medium 90 in the sub scan direction
whenever printing in the main scan direction finishes.
[0035] FIG. 2 is a sectional side view of the inkjet printer
10.
[0036] As shown in FIG. 2, the inkjet printer 10 includes: a
pre-platen 21 configured to be disposed on the upstream side of the
recording head 16 in the conveyance direction of a recording medium
90 (refer to FIG. 1) shown by an arrow 10c in the sub scan
direction shown by the arrow 10b and to support the recording
medium 90; a pre-heater 22 configured to heat the pre-platen 21 in
order to preheat the recording medium 90 to be conveyed toward a
position facing the recording head 16; a print platen 31 that is a
platen of the disclosure configured to be disposed at a position
facing the recording head 16 and support the recording medium 90; a
print heater 32 that is a heater of the disclosure configured to be
disposed at a position facing the recording head 16 and heat the
print platen 31 in order to heat the recording medium 90; an
after-platen 41 configured to be disposed on the downstream side
from the recording head 16 in the conveyance direction shown by the
arrow 10c and support the recording medium 90; and an after-heater
42 configured to heat the after-platen 41 in order to heat the
recording medium 90 conveyed from the position facing the recording
head 16.
[0037] The print platen 31 is configured to have a supporting
surface 31a for supporting each recording medium 90 and a plurality
of through-holes 31b formed in the supporting surface 31a.
[0038] The pre-heater 22 is a device configured to preheat a
recording medium 90 to be conveyed toward the position facing the
recording head 16, through the pre-platen 21, such that ink ejected
by the recording head 16 dries up quickly from when the ink is
attached to the recording medium 90.
[0039] The print heater 32 is a device configured to be disposed at
a position facing the recording head 16 and heat a recording medium
90 through the print platen 31, such that ink ejected by the
recording head 16 dries up quickly from when the ink is attached to
the recording medium 90.
[0040] The after-heater 42 is a device configured to heat a
recording medium 90, conveyed from the position facing the
recording head 16, through the after-platen 41, such that ink
ejected by the recording head 16 and attached to the recording
medium 90 can surely dry up.
[0041] As described above, ink ejected by the recording head 16 and
attached to a recording medium 90 dries up quickly and surely on
the recording medium 90 by heat generated by the pre-heater 22, the
print heater 32, and the after-heater 42, whereby bleeding is
suppressed. Therefore, the inkjet printer 10 can form high-quality
images on recording media 90 with ink.
[0042] The inkjet printer 10 includes a wall member 51 which
separates a space 20a where the pre-heater 22 is disposed, and a
space 30a where the print heater 32 is disposed. Also, the inkjet
printer 10 includes a wall member 52 which separates the space 30a
and a space 40a where the after-heater 42 is disposed. Further, the
inkjet printer 10 includes a base member 53 that blocks the bottom
of the space 20a, a base member 54 that blocks the bottom of the
space 30a, and a base member 55 that blocks the bottom of the space
40a.
[0043] The inkjet printer 10 includes a fan 33 configured to be
attached to the base member 54 and produce a flow of gas. The fan
33 is configured to suck gas in the space 30a and to discharge the
gas out of the space 30a, thereby lowering the atmosphere pressure
of the inside of the space 30a. If the atmosphere pressure of the
inside of the space 30a falls, gas existing on a side of the
supporting surface 31a with respect to the through-holes 3 lb of
the print platen 31 moves into the space 30a through the
through-holes 31b. In other words, the fan 33 is configured to
produce a flow of gas, existing on the side of the supporting
surface 31a with respect to the through-holes 31b of the print
platen 31, into the space 30a through the through-holes 31b.
[0044] The print heater 32 is disposed inside the space 30a. In
other words, the print heater 32 is disposed at a position on the
opposite side of the side of the supporting surface 31a with
respect to the through-holes 31b of the print platen 31, and the
print heater 32 is disposed inside the space 30a where gas getting
out of the through-holes 31b passes.
[0045] FIG. 3 is a sectional front view of a part, surrounding the
print platen 31, of the inkjet printer 10. FIG. 4 is a plan view of
a part, surrounding the print platen 31, of the inkjet printer
10.
[0046] As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the inkjet printer 10 (refer to
FIG. 1) includes: sheets 34 configured to be able to cover at least
a part of the print platen 31; rollers 35 that are winding members
configured to be able to wind the sheets 34; spiral springs 36 that
are biasing members configured to bias the rollers 35 in the
winding directions of the sheets 34; and guide members 37
configured to guide conveyance of each recording medium 90.
[0047] The sheets 34 are attached to the rollers 35 and the guide
members 37. The sheets 34 can cover at least a part of the
supporting surface 31a of the print platen 31, thereby shielding at
least a part of the plurality of through-holes 31b. The sheets 34
can change an area to cover the supporting surface 31a, according
to change in the positions of the guide members 37 related to the
print platen 31. Also, as a material for the sheet 34, for example,
a resin, a metal, or the like can be used.
[0048] The rollers 35 extend in the sub scan direction shown by the
arrow 10b, and are supported on the housing 11 (refer to FIG. 1)
such that they are rotatable.
[0049] The spiral springs 36 are included inside the rollers 35.
One end of each spiral spring 36 is fixed to the housing 11, and
the other end thereof is fixed to a corresponding roller 35.
[0050] The print platen 31 is provided with two guide grooves 31c
formed so as to extend in the main scan direction shown by the
arrow 10a and be separate from each other in the sub scan direction
shown by the arrow 10b. The guide members 37 have protrusions (not
shown) fit in the guide grooves 31c of the print platen 31, and can
be moved in the main scan direction shown by the arrow 10a as the
protrusions are guided along the guide grooves 31c. The guide
members 37 can be fixed at a plurality of positions with respect to
the print platen 31 by frictional forces which are generated
between the guide members and the print platen 31. In other words,
the guide members 37 constitute fixed members of the
disclosure.
[0051] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a part, surrounding a guide
member 37, of the inkjet printer 10 in a state where the inkjet
printer is conveying a recording medium 90.
[0052] As shown in FIG. 5, a guide member 37 includes a rising
suppressing unit 37a configured to suppress rising up of an end of
a recording medium 90 in the main scan direction shown by the arrow
10a.
[0053] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of the inkjet printer 10.
[0054] As shown in FIG. 6, the inkjet printer 10 includes: an
operation unit 61 that is an input device such as buttons to which
various operations of a user are input; a display unit 62 that is a
display device such as an LCD (liquid crystal display) configured
to display a variety of information; a communication unit 63 which
is a communication device configured to perform communication with
external apparatuses such as a PC (personal computer); the
conveying device 12 and the recording head 16 described above; a
carriage driving device 64 configured to move the carriage 15
(refer to FIG. 1) in the main scan direction shown by the arrow 10a
(refer to FIG. 1); the pre-heater 22, the print heater 32, the
after-heater 42, and the fan 33 described above; and a control unit
65 configured to control the whole of the inkjet printer 10.
[0055] The control unit 65 includes, for example, a CPU (central
processing unit), a ROM (read only memory) configured to retain
programs and a variety of data, a RAM (random access memory)
configured to be usable as a work area of the CPU. The CPU is
configured to execute programs retained in the ROM.
[0056] Now, operations of the inkjet printer 10 will be
described.
[0057] FIG. 7 is a sectional front view of a part, surrounding the
print platen 31, of the inkjet printer 10 in a state where the
inkjet printer is conveying a recording medium 90. FIG. 8 is a plan
view of a part, surrounding the print platen 31, of the inkjet
printer 10 in a state where the inkjet printer is conveying a
recording medium 90.
[0058] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a user can adjust the positions
of the guide members 37 relative to the print platen 31, according
to the width of a recording medium 90 in the main scan direction
shown by the arrow 10a.
[0059] Further, the user can transmit print data from a computer
such as a PC to the inkjet printer 10.
[0060] If receiving the printing data through the communication
unit 63, the control unit 65 of the inkjet printer 10 drives the
pre-heater 22, the print heater 32, the after-heater 42, and the
fan 33 while performing control on the basis of the print data
received through the communication unit 63 such that the conveying
device 12 conveys a recording medium 90 with respect to the
recording head 16 in the sub scan direction shown by the arrow 10b,
and the carriage driving device 64 moves the carriage 15 in the
main scan direction shown by the arrow 10a, thereby moving the
recording head 16 with respect to the recording medium 90 in the
main scan direction, and the recording head 16 ejects ink toward
the recording medium 90, thereby printing an image based on the
print data on the recording medium 90.
[0061] In this stage, ink ejected by the recording head 16 and
attached to the recording medium 90 dries up quickly and surely on
the recording medium 90 by heat generated by the pre-heater 22, the
print heater 32, and the after-heater 42, as described above,
whereby bleeding is suppressed. Therefore, the inkjet printer 10
can form high-quality images on recording media 90 with ink.
[0062] Also, a recording medium 90 which the conveying device 12
conveys in the conveyance direction shown by the arrow 10c is
sucked onto the supporting surface 31a of the print platen 31 by
suction force through the plurality of through-holes 31b of the
print platen 31 caused by a flow of gas produced by the fan 33,
whereby rising up is suppressed. Therefore, the inkjet printer 10
can form high-quality images on recording media 90 with ink which
is ejected toward the recording medium 90 by the recording head 16
disposed at the position facing the supporting surface 31a of the
print platen 31.
[0063] As described above, in the inkjet printer 10, since a part
of the supporting surface 31a of the print platen 31 which does not
support a recording medium 90 (hereinafter, referred to as a
"medium non-support part") can be covered by the sheets 34, whereby
the through-holes 31b of the medium non-support part can be
shielded, it is possible to suppress gas from being forced to flow
through the through-holes 31b of the medium non-support part by the
fan 33. Therefore, the inkjet printer 10 can suppress cooling of
the print platen 31 due to the flow of gas through the
through-holes 31b of the medium non-support part produced by the
fan 33, and thus can improve the efficiency of heating of the print
platen 31 by the print heater 32 as compared to that in the related
art.
[0064] Also, in the inkjet printer 10, in a case where the print
platen 31 is cooled if the fan 33 causes gas to flow through the
through-holes 31b of the medium non-support part, it is needed to
rise the temperature of the print heater 32 in order to heat the
print platen 31 to an appropriate temperature. However, in the
inkjet printer 10, since it is possible to suppress cooling of the
print platen 31 due to the flow of gas through the through-holes
31b of the medium non-support part produced by the fan 33 as
described above, it is unnecessary to rise the temperature of the
print heater 32 unlike the above described case. In other words,
the inkjet printer 10 can suppress unnecessary energy
consumption.
[0065] Also, in the inkjet printer 10, since it is possible to use
the sheet 34 to suppress the flow of gas through the through-holes
31b of the medium non-support part from being produced by the fan
33, as compared to a configuration in which gas is forced to flow
through the through-holes 31b of the medium non-support part by the
fan 33, it is possible to improve suction force which a flow of gas
produced by the fan 33 causes to be applied on a recording medium
90 through the plurality of through-holes 31b of the print platen
31, and thus it is possible to improve the qualities of images
formed on recording medium 90 with ink.
[0066] In the inkjet printer 10, since the print heater 32 is
disposed in the space 30a where gas entering the through-holes 31b
from the side of the supporting surface 31a of the print platen 31
and getting out of the through-holes 31b passes, gas entering the
through-holes 31b from the side of the supporting surface 31a of
the print platen 31 and getting out of the through-holes 31b passes
the vicinity of the print heater 32, and thus the print heater 32
can be easily cooled by the gas. Therefore, the inkjet printer 10
further improves the efficiency of heating of the print platen 31
by the print heater 32, as compared to a configuration in which the
print heater 32 is not disposed in the space 30a.
[0067] Also, the inkjet printer 10 may be configured such that the
print heater 32 is not disposed in the space 30a.
[0068] In the inkjet printer 10, in a case where the sheets 34 move
with respect to the print platen 31, the sheets 34 are wound.
Therefore, as compared to a configuration in which the sheets 34
move with respect to the print platen 31 without being wound, it is
possible to reduce a space for accommodating the sheets 34, and
thus it is possible to reduce the size of the whole of the inkjet
printer 10.
[0069] Also, the inkjet printer 10 may be configured such that the
sheets 34 move with respect to the print platen 31 without being
wound.
[0070] In the inkjet printer 10, as long as the positions of the
guide members 37 relative to the print platen 31 change, the sheets
34 can be automatically wound around the rollers 35 by the biasing
forces of the spiral springs 36. Therefore, as compared to a
configuration in which a user manually winds the sheets 34 around
the rollers 35, it is possible to suppress the burden of a
user.
[0071] Also, the inkjet printer 10 may be configured such that a
user manually winds the sheets 34 around the rollers 35.
[0072] In the inkjet printer 10, the guide members 37 have both of
a function of fixing the sheets 34 with respect to the print platen
31 and a function of guiding conveyance of a recording medium 90.
Therefore, as long as the guide members 37 are fixed with respect
to the print platen 31 according to the width of a recording medium
90 in order to make the guide members 37 guide conveyance of the
recording medium 90, it is possible to improve the efficiency of
heating of the print platen 31 by the print heater 32 using the
sheets 34.
[0073] Also, the inkjet printer 10 may be configured such that the
function of fixing the sheets 34 with respect to the print platen
31 and the function of guiding conveyance of a recording medium 90
are implemented by separate members, respectively.
[0074] Although the inkjet printer 10 is configured in the
illustrative embodiment such that a recording medium 90 is moved
with respect to the print platen 31, it may be configured like a
so-called flat bed type inkjet printer such that a recording medium
90 is not moved with respect to the print platen 31 and the
recording head 16 is moved even in the sub scan direction shown by
the arrow 10b.
DESCRIPTION OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0075] 10 inkjet printer [0076] 16 recording head [0077] 30a space
(space where gas passes) [0078] 31 print platen (platen) [0079] 31a
supporting surface [0080] 31b through-hole [0081] 32 print heater
(heater) [0082] 33 fan [0083] 34 sheet [0084] 35 roller (winding
member) [0085] 36 spiral spring (biasing member) [0086] 37 guide
member (fixed member) [0087] 90 recording medium
* * * * *